A big vocal reverb here, and the driving pulse, cement this track as an uptempo example of east-coast shoegaze - the fleeting energy, the dynamic release, and the spacious effects, all contribute to a sense of gravitas from this washy pop number. The double-time straight drum-pocket sets it up, and the aggressive quarter-note groove takes us on a satisfying ride.

Beyond the chosen stylistic identity, what emerges in terms of message is a simple statement about the fact that things can always be better, at the same time that they can always be worse. We tend to feel trapped in the box that life has chosen for us, which is why sometimes we shut down. The pressure to succeed, to pay attention, and to understand what is happening, can become something of a suffocating force.

I swear I almost pissed my pants when the cops came over and knocked on the window

The succession from passed-out teenager in the backseat of a car, to young adult, to future homemaker and parent is a long and arduous one. Songs like this can act as a sort of marker, and a way to appreciate the little steps we take every day to both honor the past, and differentiate ourselves from it.

This will be the second Single from DC-based garage-rock band, Cal Rifkin. This song is featured on our Lost Treasure - Indie Rock playlist.